When it comes to supporting our troops and standing behind our great country, most consider themselves very patriotic. It's unfortunate that it takes an event like 9/11 to get most off the couch and behind a cause that should be on everybody's mind all the time...supporting our troops and giving thanks often. Well, fly fishermen can give thanks to our veterans by helping a cause like Project Healing Waters. Even if you don't have the time to volunteer, you can check the latest creations from T.L. Johnson and the unique partnership the company has formed with Project Healing Waters and www.FlyFishingCrazy.com.
"Terry Johnson, owner of T.L. Johnson has just sweetened our original deal on the exclusive Project Healing Waters Fly rod by enabling us to give more to Project Healing Waters," said Larry Snyder, owner of www.FlyFishingCrazy.com. "To give you an idea of what we give Project Healing Waters, the base rod is $335 and we give $87 of that to disabled soldiers and veterans that take part in Project Healing Waters. Terry and I both served in the Army, so we both have a soft spot for these guys."
This writer recently got a chance to sample the Project Healing Waters/T.L. Johnson rod on Clear Creek for an afternoon of fun with an attractor pattern. This American-made rod casts with the best of them. With a mid-ranged price tag, I couldn't tell you if I had a Sage One, Orvis Helios or T.L. Johnson PHW rod in my hand. It loaded quickly and shot line upriver with the best of them.
You like fast action and a quick response whether casting or pulling an attractor in to the corner of a brown's mouth? This 4-piece, 5-weight has the action combining the power of a heavier rod with the weight of a small creek and river rod. It will be at home on any river in the Rockies, creek in the Cascades or estuary back East.
"This fly rod incorporates a unique graphite resign system along with helical reinforcement," says Terry Johnson. "This construction provides for a rod that is very light, yet durable. "PHW fly rods are balanced to achieve low swing weight and offer a matte fishing. They are fast and available in line weights from 4 to 8."
The rod I enjoyed on Clear Creek features quality components. It is obviously built to last and will be my go-to stick whether nymphing, throwing dries or swinging wet hackles. This Project Healing Waters Rod features a non-denominational green design, but if your buying for yourself or a friend whose spent time in the armed forces, you can customize the rod by branch. The Project Healing Waters rod is unaffiliated, but can be customized with branch of service colors such as; black with gold accents for Army, dark blue with white accents for Navy, red with gold accents for Marines, blue with silver accents for Air Force and blue with red accents for Coast Guard.
"All rods are hand inscribed with "Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing," rod length, line weight and serial number," said Larry Snyder of www.FlyFishingCrazy.com. "All rods are custom built as they are ordered, so allow 4 to 8 weeks for build time."
Back on the water, Clear Creek surrendered numerous brownies on Kaufman's stimulator. It was fun feeling the fish fight again, having spent so much time on my older 6-weight this year with sink tips and heavy streamers. Spending time on a few drifts with 3X setups as well, it was nice to throw this sensitive 5-weight with 6X for a change.
I found the rod to not only performed well, but its quality stood out as well. From the exclusive Joel Lemke reel seat with anodized pewter and wood insert to the extra fine reverse half-wells cork grip, the rod has a solid feel yet feels light enough to take on any trout fishery. The rod comes with a burgundy Cordura pocketed rod tube as well for safe keeping if you have a 2-year-old like me.
There are some optional hardware upgrades available. You can get a nickel silver reel seat with nickel silver winding check, deluxe chrome stripping guide and hardened chrome snake guides and tip-top. Maybe go with a gun-barrel blued nickel reel seat with a gorgeous walnut insert, blued nickel winding check and a titanium stripping guide.
Which ever rod you choose, you can be assured you are getting a quality T.L. Johnson Rod and you are helping veterans through Project Healing Waters. Whether you need a new rod or you know someone who is in the market for a rod, you owe it to yourself to check out these rods and do some good.
Larry Snyder also has a special deal on a heavier rod. If you are in the market for a bass, carp or steelhead rod, contact him through www.FlyFishingCrazy.com. We are talking $200 for a high performance, fast-action heavier rod! Click these links for more information on Project Healing Waters, The PHW Rod collection or T.L. Johnson.
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